SLANSW Professional Learning Summit - All the Literacies: Read, Discern, Discover

Dr Jane Garner (Charles Sturt University)

Working with Vulnerability in Library Spaces: Insights from

High-Need Contexts

Libraries are increasingly engaging with individuals experiencing complex and often hidden forms of vulnerability. This presentation draws on research into how people experiencing vulnerability engage with library spaces. It explores what makes libraries accessible, meaningful, and safe for individuals who may be distrustful of institutions, reluctant to seek help, or navigating multiple forms of disadvantage. Key themes include trust, autonomy, low-barrier access, and the relational nature of library work.

Presenter Bio

Dr Jane Garner is an Associate Professor and Social Science researcher with the School of Information & Communication Studies at Charles Sturt University, Australia. She researches the roles of reading, libraries and information in closed, restricted and vulnerable communities, including people living in prisons and people experiencing homelessness and other forms of poverty and disadvantage. Jane is also interested in the impact of user behaviours on the wellbeing of library workers.

Registrations open at https://www.slansw.net.au/events